MacGregorSailors.com

Reminds me of occassion this summer. I normally tow with an Explorer but I had loaned it to a family member so when the urge hit to go boating I hooked up to my Toyota Sienna and off I went. Everything went smooth until the end of the day when backing the trailer down in a tight spot I clipped a Newfoundland guardrail AKA "big friggen rock" and yanked the front bumper off - a couple choice words and a few smacks I was able to snap it back on. While pulling the boat out, the front wheels started spinning but by this time the ballast drain was just clear of the water. When I got out of the vehicle there was a couple of guys on the dock explaining to me what I needed to do to get the boat out - something about 4x4's, axles and tow ropes. As I was already in a foul mood I said bluntly "All I need to do is get rid of 1400lbs", then I crossed my arms and leaned against my scrapped and bruised van. After a few minutes standing there in silence I said "that outa do it" and got in and pulled the boat up without any trouble to the puzzled looks of my audience. Have I ever regretted my two wheel drive tow vehicle? - Absolutely! The Sienna used to look better then the Explorer!

Watched a guy spinning wheels in his 2 x 4 on a ramp next to a sandy hill - half the hill had encroached on half the ramp - I was on the other side and thinking about offering to help and then he spun his wheels all the way - didnt look like he had a lot of control.

I went to 4-wheel drive about 10 years ago and wouldn't go back (considering what I use mine for). I used to have problems on the wet ramps, but no more. My F-350 Powerstroke doesn't even hardly know the Mac is behind her!!!! Comes in handy for towing the 11K 5th wheel, too! And when not towing, I still get 18-19 mpg on the highway, and 15-16 around town.

I did it ........I pulled the trigger! I bought New For ME. . a 2005 Dodge ( D ear O ld D ads G arage E xperiment)
Its the Dodge 1500 SLT Quad Cap 4x4 and loaded with most the toys and leather Interior as well. Oh That $45,000.00 Avalanche would have looked sweat but it was.. . . . an additional $30,000.00

What engine does it have Dive? 4.7, 5.7 Hemi, or the V6?

~Rich

Hamin' X wrote:What engine does it have Dive? 4.7, 5.7 Hemi, or the V6?

~Rich

HUMmmmmmmmmm dang I didn't really look I think its must be the smaller V8 because I didn't see the Nice 5.7 Hemi plaque on the front fenders.
My 98 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 L. V6, power wise pulled it well. PLEASE!!!!!! Don't tell me that if its the small V8 I will be sorry for ever having separated with my mad money....@#$%^&* I never really thought about that. I was pleased it was and 05 with low mileage V8 SLT 4x4 leather bla bla bla and previous owner, who I got to talk with, is my age and traded it in for a Car. . retired guy no more projects, no more need for a Truck , and the car gets much better mileage.... @#$%^&*( dang 4.7 equates to what a Ford 289 ?? @#$%^&*(
I did open the hood it sure looked bigger than a Mustang 289 @#$%^&*()&^%$#$%^&*((*&^%!!!!!!!

We used 4x4 only one time in a year and that was at a 13 ft low tide and the ramp was slick. The ballast handle had rusted off and could not let the ballast water out untill we pulled out. I tow with my F150 long box with extended cab , It has a 5.4 motor.

If it is the 4.7, that is a good engine with a good track record. Should do fine with a 1/2 ton pickup. The 5.7 will get better fuel mileage when towing, but over all I think the 4.7 will be fine. I have the 4.7 HO in my '02 Jeep Grande Cherokee, and it handles 5,000 lb towing with ease.

~Rich

Rich, your Jeep 4.7 has a 5,500 gvwr and 9,550# towing capacity. My 03 GC gets it done at 5-10,000' altitude and gets 13 with the boat up and down the big hills, 17 average--no boat-- city/highway.
I just weighed my total rig = 8720 wuth 1/2 tank of gas, no driver, tandem axle trailer.

Dive, that's a great truck I'm saving up for one of them too.

Bob

bscott wrote:Rich, your Jeep 4.7 has a 5,500 gvwr and 9,550# towing capacity.

Bob

Yes, I was just talking about the average towing that it does with the 4.7 engine. 2 horses in two horse trailer, with all gear and feed.

~Rich

I hope I made a good choice and if I didn't.....well I will just have to live with it . I dont drive all that much anymore and most often we use the wife's car or I'll jump on my bike and go for a ride. . did that today , me and the wife did a quick 60 mile loop . Wont be long and it'll be time to start winterizing stuff. Next weekend we sail our last sail and pull stuff out of the boat and then a day or two later, I grab the boat out of the water and bring her home.
My brother says bring her down to Port Charlotte Fla. for the winter. . says we'll go out on her and you can keep her in the water at the neighbors . we'll build new cabinets for her . . he really wants me to come down. . . .you know before we each are so old we can do nothing anymore.....I am going to try and make this happen. No Doubt if I dont years from now will kick my self for not spending time with him when he asked me to. Ya know just sitting here and thinking . . my brother dont like sail boats . . he gets sea sick real bad on them. . yet he's will to go sailing if I'll just come down. . .and bring my boat. He has a Shamrock with twin Yanmar 315 HP Diesels . he was the first one in the family to want a sail boat .
He always said he was going to name it it Lost At Sea because he wanted to sell everything and just go, get way away from thre rat eat rat race . .Take his scuba gear, Spear guns, free dive fins, his electrical tools and meters to make a little beer money here and there.
Yep just sitting here thinking . . . .I need to at least really try to make this happen. . .

2002 Eurovan FWD with a 200 HP fairly torquey motor and 4 speed AT

Trailer 200 miles one way 6 times a year. Like the combo a lot. The difference in the comfort level between 60 mph and 70 mph is amazing; at 60 mph the car drives 'itself' while at 70mph you have to drive it. At 60 mph, you can also stick cruise on in the right lane and just watch for mergers so the trip is really pleasant.
No economy difference between 60 mph and 70 mph - 14 mpg either way. Stop every hour and check for loose nuts, hot tires/bearings, and loose boat stuff.

I recently pulled our mac out and forgot to engage the 4x4. It pulled it right out without problems. I would imagine the ramp grade and slippery level would add to the equation. But we had no probs.

We tow our mac with either a V8 Holden Statesman (top of the range 2WD sedan) or a Kia Grand Carnival (V6, 3.7L Front wheel drive people mover). Both cars tow the kia well. I have never had an issue with wheel spin on either cars on the ramps (but I usually don't get the wheels on the slimy ramp).

Would I replace it with a 4WD? Maybe - but only so I could use the 4WD on the rough tracks (which I would not take the boat on anyway).

I brought her home today WOW !! What a dream, 60 to 70 mph laid back one handed. I had the Stereo loaded with The Best of The Gypsy Kings Cranking The Tunes all the way home. Down side was 12.5 mpg but who cares it was a easy ride home ..... Tank holds about 30 gallons so can do Port Charlotte Florida with 4 tanks of gas or less.... R/T under $600 in Gas!!